What’s up with this? The format seems ridiculous for a sport. I thought that for a sport to be engaging, there must be two opposing aspects which are sort of on even ground(batting vs. bowling, attacking vs. defending, offense vs. defense) . But this one is too heavily slanted towards batsman. Like I commented in pr3rna’s blog, why even have professional bowlers? The crowd wants to see a lot of 4s and 6s – why not just give it to them with the least resistance? Have an amateur bowler (or better yet a bowling machine), and amateur fielders – perhaps very good actors who can dive when there is no need and not field so that to the crowd it looks like “a great shot past the fielder”.

Of course, just when you think it cannot get any more silly, you have the concept of “bowl-out” to break a tie – like a penalty shoot-out in soccer. Which genius came up with this idea? The penalty shoot-out is quite anti-climactic, but this tops that by also being comical! But at least I think this joke won’t play out that often as a tie at the end of 20 overs would be quite rare.

I cannot find the link on The BBC Sports website about history of Twenty20 – but I found their seriousness in taking this sport serious to be quite amusing. Apparently, a crowd of a few thousand in England is enough to declare this is a rage and it has “caught on”. Soccer in the US draws a heck of a lot more, but it is still “catching on”.

I certainly do not doubt the entertainment value of Twent20 cricket, but can it last as a sport? Or will it only last until the next best thing? I think soon people may get tired of the mindless hitting – but then our appetite for masala movies is never satisfied …

Gatherings, festivals, Social Events Galore

It is quite clear that the size of the Indian community here in this big mid-western city has just exploded exponentially. This year, like in May, the months of August, September and October are loaded with functions and events. Every weekend, we have something to attend to – whether is cultural festivals, dance arangetrams, music concerts, dance programs etc. etc. And very often, we have clashes – two functions on the same day and we have to pick one!

One big indicator of this rise in the size of the Indian community is the # of cars parked at the local temples on a weekday. I remember 10 years ago, if I went to the temple during a weekday in the evening, there will 2-3 cars parked. The temple would literally be deserted except for the priests and a couple of administrative folks. Nowadays, you go anytime the temple is open, there are at least 20 cars. Some days, you think there is nothing big going on – but the entire parking lot is full. On big religious days, local police has to come and organize traffic. On really big ones like Deepavali, you have remote parking with people having to take shuttle buses. In a US city, 10,000 miles away from home. Wow!

The talent of professional musicians is mind-blogging

I am a lover of music – but specifically Carnatic Music. Last week, I witnessed a orchestra from India learn within a matter of few days, 3.5 hours worth of music to be performed with coordination with dancers (three dance groups, 5 hours including the 4th dance group with which they were touring).

The # of new pieces they learnt were about 40 I think. They had to remember how many times certain lines/phrases had to be repeated, when to “extend”/”improvise” a certain part to allow the dancers to enhance the scene etc. Some pieces included fairly complex rhythmic combinations. They did all this with only 1-2 live rehearsals with each dance group. And they did a fantastic job given the seemingly herculean task! I was there for the rehearsal and just watching them pick up stuff, make minor adjustments as and when needed all seemingly at a blink of an eye – it was truly mind boggling!

Hey thanks!
Your comments btw are always very insightful, so thanks again. 🙂
Music is a subject I don’t know too much about although I am surrounded by music lovers at home! They always frown at my lack of knowledge…but honestly I can’t hum a decent tune!But I enjoy music a lot (though I don’t know much about it)and at times feel it is healing and calming.

Thanks for visiting Nita! There are indeed two ways of appreciating music and they are not necessarily mutually exclusive – although the danger of becoming too knowledgeable is you start becoming very selective (and perhaps more opinionated). I sometimes wish I went back to my earlier days when many many things brought enjoyment. I am still fairly open – but definitely more closed than I was.

Do you think 20/20 cricket brings it closer to golf, where there’s just hitting, and no bowling? 🙂

What are “dance arangetrams”? Interesting to learn that the no. of cars is increasing…and it’s a good indicator of the popularity of a place in the US.

I’m again thinking: isn’t it much easier to “measure” the popularity of anything in the US – be it opinion polls, Internet site statistics, car parking, etc.? Probably goes to show how technology makes it easier to act as barometers of the public opinion!

mahendra: Ah! Golf! Yes there is a “sport” ( 😉 ) which also doesn’t have 2 opposing (human) aspects.

Arangetram
It is basically the “graduation” performance of a Bharatanatyam student – usually in her mid-late teens although not uncommon for them to be younger (even < 10).

It is a solo performance of about 1.5-2 hours (used to be 3hrs many decades ago), performed to live music. The term “arangetram” (अरङ्गेट्रं) is a compound tamizh word => arangu/अरङ्गु (stage) ETTram/एट्रं (ascent). The teacher does the cymbals (doing this is called naTTuvAngam/नट्टुवाङ्गं), which basically accentuates the rhythms to which the dancers feet moves , and the rhythmic aspects of bharatanatyam can get quite complex.

(note: I really don’t know Sanskrit – I just used a software I wrote to transliterate the tamizh words to it. Hopefully it conveyed the right pronounciation).

The fact that a young person can pull a couple of hour solo performance with some really long and energetic items, when the full spot light shines on them – everyone looking at them etc. – I am still amazed how they handle it.

Arangetrams are a big deal nowadays in the US – pretty much like a wedding (without a groom) in terms of expenses, fan-fare, food. It does not have to be so but I guess parents want it to be a very very special day for their family.

Measuring popularity in US:
Good point! I did not think about this – but indeed there are many easy/obvious signs facilitated by technology!

I am not sure T20 is Cricket but it is fun.Mindless hitting-all the strokes played by Yuvraj were Cricketing strokes;All the 6 sixes.Everybody who thought bowling would not be important- Sreesanth, R.P Singh and even spinners like Bhajji and Afridi have played an important role.About the Bowl Out thing it helped us win so that much is acceptable in the name of patriotism.

Considering India has just now won the whole thing AND you had a Yuvraj equal a rare record – may be I should suspend my objections 😉 . I did see those sixes on youtube – wow indeed.

But I think bowlers just cannot look forward to this thing. Although perhaps a bit harsh analogy – they are sort of like the gladiators in Roman days i.e. the ones who are “supposed to get slaughtered”. Once in a while, they gain the upper-hand like Maximums Aurelius but in general – they get slaughtered for the amusement of the fans.

Oh also if bowlers figure out a way, that means less 4s and less 6s and more mis-hits, not what the crowd may want.